Leicester woman celebrates win with ‘Cake Boss’

When he sets his mind on something, “Cake Boss” Buddy Valastro Jr. said he knows it will be a success because he always does his best.

Heidi McCarthy of Leicester was doing her best, too, though success was not assured. Every day for a month she submitted an entry to the “From Hoboken to Your Home” contest in the hopes she’d win a private party with Mr. Valastro.

Monday night, Mrs. McCarthy glowed as her friends and family, some of whom claim to be Mr. Valastro’s biggest fans, got to share some private time at VIA Italian Table with the celebrity baker whose TLC shows “Cake Boss” and “Next Great Baker” made his little bakery in Hoboken, N.J., world famous.

“It’s great that I can share it with everybody and see everybody so happy,” Mrs. McCarthy said, as she and her husband, Kenneth McCarthy, donned baker’s jackets emblazoned with their names and the “Cake Boss” logo.

Mr. Valastro is gaining familiarity with the city, having performed at The Hanover Theatre for the Performing Arts and worked with former Worcester police officer turned baker Carmelo Oquendo, who was a contestant on the second season of “Next Great Baker.” But he still has trouble pronouncing Worcester.

“Wooster!,” he said with a grin. “There. Did I get it right? No?”

The party was part of the launch of a new cake line, made from Mr. Valastro’s recipes, which are available in local supermarkets, including Big Y, BJ’s, Stop & Shop and Price Chopper. The cakes, which are kosher, are the result of a partnership between TLC, Carlo’s Bakery and Dawn Food Products.

Mr. Valastro said he hears from fans across the country, many of whom may never get the chance to stand in the long lines at Carlo’s Bakery for a sampling of the sweets he makes.

The cake line, he explained, gives everyone a chance to try a cake from the shop. And those who think they aren’t as good as what Mr. Valastro’s crew turns out at the shop should know that in a blind taste test, the crew, including Mr. Valastro, couldn’t tell the difference between a store-bought cake and one made at the bakery.

Mrs. McCarthy’s guests got to sample the new cakes, most proclaiming the “Whole Lotta Carrots” and the “Oh My Ganache!” as their favorites.

Susan Birchler of Holliston managed to attend the event because she’s friendly with Mrs. McCarthy’s aunt. She’s visited Hoboken three times and met Mr. Valastro’s mother, whom she adored, she said.

Mary Valastro has ALS, Lou Gehrig’s disease, but so far, its progression has been slow.

Ms. Birchler said Mrs. Valastro signed autographs for every person in the bakery who asked. She has been an integral part of the “Cake Boss” show and has played a part in the “Next Great Baker” as well.

“She’s also an integral part of my life,” Mr. Valastro said, adding that he is touched when fans ask first about her. After she was diagnosed, the family started the Momma Mary Foundation to raise money for ALS research.

Mrs. McCarthy said she watches a lot of reality television and was worried that she’d forgotten to record “The Bachelor,” just in case she got home late from the party.

She said she’s generally not all that lucky.

“Once I won $700 at bingo but they wouldn’t give it to me because I had torn the number off the card,” she said, adding that she was on a cruise at the time.

But Mr. Valastro suggested she might want to try her luck at a casino having had her entry picked from more than 60,000.

While he knew the show would be successful, he never imagined how much people would come to love his big Italian family, including his “tough broad” sisters, his four children, wife Lisa and his crew.

“I look at my Facebook and I have more than 5 million fans,” he said. “It makes me feel really good but it’s kind of bittersweet because I see our local customers and I feel bad for them.” (Because customers used to walk right into the bakery where there’s always a line now.)

Mr. Valastro said he has a new show in the works in which he helps struggling bakery owners make a comeback.

“I feel I owe it to the industry, for my success,” he said.

But in the end, he and Mrs. McCarthy share the same value, that family comes first.

“I’m glad you can watch and enjoy the show as a family,” he said.

Contact Kim Ring at kring@telegram.com Follow her on Twitter @kimmring

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